Arvada Press 070623

Taste of Arvada returns

Je co School Board approves Moore/ Pomona school consolidation

BY JANE REUTER SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

e Je erson County School Board unanimously approved the consolidation of Westminster’s Moore Middle School and Arvada’s Pomona High School. Moore Middle School will close, and Pomona will become a 6-12 grade facility with the start of the 20242025 school year.

Principals of both northern Je erson County schools, located about a mile apart, proposed the plan. ey described it and the changes that will come with the merger as a vision for “a thriving 6-12 secondary experience.”

District leadership praised those who led the e ort during the June 22 board meeting. e consolidation is among several school closures planned districtwide due to declining enrollment. But unlike those district-initiated proposals, the plan for the Pomona/ Moore merger came from leaders at the two schools.

BY LILLIAN FUGLEI LFUGLEI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

If you’re looking for a new restaurant and want to try them all but don’t know where to start, look no further than Taste of Arvada.

Taste of Arvada is an annual event bringing together all the food, drink and live music Arvada has to o er. Planned by the Arvada Chamber of Commerce, this year’s

event will feature more than 50 local restaurants, craft breweries and non-food vendors.

is year’s Taste of Arvada will be from 6-8 p.m. July 13 at the Apex Center, with VIP early access at 5 p.m. Tickets are available through the Ar vada Chamber of Commerce’s website.

“As Arvada’s food scene constantly grows and evolves, we continue to add new and exciting restaurants

to the Taste of Arvada mix,” said Samantha Geerdes, vice president of member services and events for the Arvada Chamber of Commerce.

“ is is the only event where you can sample so much of what Arvada has to o er,” added Geerdes. “Not only delicious food and beverages but local music, artisans and businesses. It’s a must-attend event for anyone who lives in Arvada or loves coming to visit.”

“ is is a great example of an idea that came directly from the community to solve a challenge they feel every day,” said Lisa Relou, Je co Public Schools’ chief of strategy and communications. “ ey wanted to get ahead of the district in terms of coming up with their own solution.”

Both institutions have seen enrollment steadily decline. Pomona’s enrollment

Taste of Arvada brings food and drink sampling to attendees in 2022.

PHOTO BY RYAN HECHT; COURTESY ARVADA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.

BY ERICA BREUNLIN THE COLORADO SUN

Growing up in a world that often sees di erences as de ciencies, Shannon Brennan long ago learned to question the things that set her apart from others rather than embrace them.

For Brennan, 37, those di erences play out in the way she learns. e two halves of her brain don’t always communicate with each other, she said, so she sometimes struggles to understand speech. Brennan was diagnosed with a genetic condition known as Fragile X syndrome at age 12, and is sometimes anxious and can quickly become overstimulated in large crowds or when bombarded by loud noises.

But last week, when Brennan found herself more than 5,000 miles away from her home in Aurora meeting people who navigate the world with their own set of special needs, she began to look at her di erences, well, di erently.

“I just have challenges, but (my body) ain’t broken,” she said. “It’s ne. It just works in a di erent way. Just because it works di erently than yours doesn’t mean it’s broken or damaged or anything.”

Brennan set o on a 10-day trip with

e Wayfaring Band earlier this month, Berlin-bound to volunteer at the 2023 Special Olympics. e Denver-based nonpro t shepherds groups of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, along with their typical peers who want to learn how to be better allies, on excursions across the country and world. e getaways give adults with disabilities an opportunity to branch out of their everyday lives — much of which are often guided by other people like parents and job coaches — to explore new cultures and learn more about themselves.

ose kinds of treks can be rare for people with disabilities because so much of the world falls short in accommodating their needs, said Kendall Hagar, interim executive director of e Wayfaring Band.

“Every human being should belong in our world,” said Hagar, who has attention-de cit/hyperactivity disorder. “And we believe that folks with disabilities are not limited in their capacity to enjoy the full human experience and all of the things that that entails.”

e nonpro t, which has been whisking adults with disabilities to all kinds of destinations for nearly 11 years, also pushes for those individuals to be treated as the adults they are —

rather than children.

“We’re actively ghting against that infantilization by doing very adult things,” Hagar said.

On past trips, that has included clinking drinks at biker bars and attending concerts. In Berlin, band members tried schnitzel for the rst time, shared a meter-long tray full of beers, checked out a marketplace, and visited both the Anne Frank Center and the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe. ey also watched Special Olympics athletes compete in swimming, soccer, cycling and equestrian events and made new friends from all over the world as they volunteered at the Games, welcoming attendees, o ering directions to spectators and energizing crowds.

Brennan, who was visiting Germany for the rst time, initially clammed up while thinking about introducing herself to volunteers and athletes from other countries. But with help from another band member, she overcame her hesitation and struck up conversations with strangers, exchanging ashy commemorative pins with many of them.

At the start of the Games, each team of athletes received pins decorated to re ect their country, with the idea that they would be traded with other teams, carrying on a tradition that dates back to the 1920s. e Wayfaring Band brought their own pins, breaking through language barriers as they approached athletes and gestured at pins to swap.

Justin Pressel, another band member, gathered 13 pins, which he fastened to a lanyard, and in his time in Berlin got to know people from Israel, Japan and North Macedonia, among other places.

Pressel, 32, previously traveled to New Mexico and Seattle with e Wayfaring Band but had never ventured out of the country. His voyage to Berlin with 11 other band members marked one of his biggest steps beyond his comfort zone.

a-half month battle for an updated passport ended with her leaving for Berlin the day after she was supposed to y out with her bandmates. After the U.S. Department of State returned the initial application she mailed in, citing that it was incomplete without much more explanation, she struggled to nd an available appointment to renew her passport in person. She eventually secured an appointment in Kiowa, 45 minutes from her home, and paid an extra fee to expedite shipping.

Brennan waited a few more weeks while her passport was being processed and couldn’t get an answer from the passport agency about when she would receive her passport. e week she was slated to leave, she called U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet’s o ce to help rush the delivery of her passport. After more waiting and more frustration, she nally received her passport the day of her ight but not in time to catch it.

“It’s confusing,” Brennan said. “It’s really hard. Anybody but especially anybody who has a disability or some kind of di erence, it’s really, really difcult to understand.”

at hiccup was the rst of several the group encountered leading up to and during their time abroad as they noticed and experienced accessibility challenges at the Special Olympics — the one place designed speci cally for people with disabilities.

eir concerns started with ashing lights and loud music during the Games’ opening ceremony — special e ects that can be harmful to some people with sensory challenges. Band members also noted that bathroom spaces were not wide enough to t a wheelchair while some wheelchairaccessible ramps were often far from the areas where spectators led in to watch events.

And in Berlin, a steep set of stairs down to the subway and narrow sidewalks created additional hurdles for people who rely on wheelchairs.

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“I’m used to being alone at home playing video games,” said Pressel, who lives in Denver and also works full time at King Soopers.

He was in awe over an opening ceremony that featured lively, acrobatic performances and a parade of at least 170 countries, and he became mesmerized by soccer matches that were punctuated with slide tackles and collisions.

Pressel, who has cerebral palsy, had fun getting to know his fellow travelers and learning about their di erences — all while banding together with volunteers, fans and athletes at the Games to cheer everyone on.

“Even though they’re rooting for (their) country, everyone’s the same,” Pressel said. “ ey’re all for the Special Olympics. at’s what’s great.”

Brennan’s trip overseas stopped before it even started. A three-and-

“Accessibility is hard,” Hagar said, “and it takes work. And even folks that are doing the work still have learning to do. And I can’t imagine how much work it was to put on this massive global event and the logistics that it involved, and there’s always room for improvement.”

Other challenges for groups of travelers during previous trips and even at home have been prompted by people rather than places. For instance, while e Wayfaring Band was exploring Seattle last summer, a woman collecting tickets for a ferry ride belittled the troupe as they boarded.

“She was saying things like, ‘Why are you so slow? Are you an idiot? What’s wrong with you?’” Hagar recalls. at moment sticks with Pressel, who kept walking but grew quietly

If you could see Colorado’s air, you would want to improve it.

Many adults with disabilities have few chances to travel. A group of them from Colorado went 5,000 miles for the Special Olympics.

TRAVEL

angry as the woman continued her outburst.

But the accessibility setbacks the group faced in Berlin didn’t completely cloud their trip. Instead, band members encouraged one another to be open about their needs and be brave enough to ask for help.

Traveling with the band led Sophia Calderón, a freelance photographer who shadowed band members and

documented their days in Berlin, to be more aware of how she carries herself and the ways she views spaces.

“I’m also in this space of my life where I’m ready to unlearn a lot of the structures that society has implemented in our minds,” Calderón said, adding that she wants people to understand that individuals with disabilities deserve autonomy and can give help as easily as they receive it.

As a group in Berlin, e Wayfaring Band formed its own sense of community during their nearly week and a half of travels — one that surrounded Brennan with the kinds of meaningful

friends she’s been searching for, especially after a recent divorce chipped away at her ability to trust others.

“ ey really helped build that for me, at least like the rst building block of trusting people a little bit more,” she said.

And they have helped her embrace the di erences she has spent so much of her life questioning.

“ e culture of our group is the way that I wish the world operated, where folks are just on a regular basis supporting each other with whatever they need and remembering that we are di erent and yet we are all on the same

team,” Hagar said. “We all want happiness. We all want peace in our lives. We all want a life of adventure and beauty, and … we can lean on each other to get all of those things. And it actually makes it more magical when we get to do it all together.”

is story is from e Colorado Sun, a journalist-owned news outlet based in Denver and covering the state. For more, and to support e Colorado Sun, visit coloradosun.com. e Colorado Sun is a partner in the Colorado News Conservancy, owner of Colorado Community Media.

The impact of rain in Arvada

BY LILLIAN FUGLEI LFUGLEI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

is summer’s many rain storms are having impacts across Colorado. For Arvada, there may be some unexpected bene ts from the rain alongside the drawbacks.

According to Katie Patterson, communications manager for infrastructure for the City of Arvada, the biggest impact of the rain has been on ongoing construction.

“Work can’t get done when we have really intense rains like that. And so it can delay projects,” said Patterson. “ ere are two big road construction projects. Both saw some of those delays on (both) Ralston Road and West 72nd.”

Patterson added that, for Ralston Road particularly, that rain caused some ooding.

“ e road is essentially, you know, on its subgrade surface level, instead of that all the way up on where like the normal paving would be,” said Patterson. “Which means that the water has to pool up further before it can get into the storm system.”

According to Melanie Walter, oodplain engineering manager for the City of Arvada, this ooding created more work.

“We do have a lot more dewater-

ing of construction sites too, and that can lead to water quality issues,” Walter said. “So you know, the dewatering has to be very careful. We have to make sure that that’s being treated before it’s released into the waterways as well.”

However, the rains have also been bene cial, particularly for Walter’s work. She said the rains had “shown (her) where our pinch points are, where our infrastructure is really causing the day-to-day problems, and where our dollars need to go.”

e rains showed Walter the main area of focus for Arvada: drainage ways.

First are the open drainage ways, which are the creeks and ditches that help drain water from an area. They’re the drainage ways people can see.

“In the open drainage ways, we’ve seen where we need to manage the vegetation. So the more vegetation that’s in an open drainage way, the less flood-carrying capacity it has,” said Walter. “So we have to take a look at when it’s starting to threaten homes or property or threatening flooding in the street, it’s things like that. And that really informs where we focus our maintenance.”

Walter added that open drainage ways weren’t the only priority. Pipes and streets also need a certain flood-carrying capacity to avoid flooding.

“So we need to make sure that our streets and our pipes have the capacity to handle those types of flooding events,” said Walter. “Real life and what these rains have really shown us the last couple of months is truly where our priorities need to land…It’s helped us inform where we really need to push our dollars, as far as the pipe networking.”

Heavy rain has caused flooding and impacted ongoing construction, according to Katie Patterson, communications manager for infrastructure for the City of Arvada.

FILE PHOTO BY CHANCY J. GATLIN-ANDERSON

CONSOLIDTION

has dropped by about 15% over ve school years, and Moore’s by about 50%. In fact, Moore will be the smallest middle school in the Je co School District in the 2023-24 academic year.

Incoming Moore Middle School

Principal Tamsen Stokes, currently assistant principal at Golden High School, will oversee Moore’s nal year. She steps in for outgoing Principal Brenda Fletcher. Stokes expects the last year will be both exciting and bittersweet.

“Regardless of why, having to close a school is challenging for all involved,” she said. “Given the decreasing enrollment over past years, transitioning Pomona into a 6-12 school is a viable solution for the articulation area, but it’s just still a hard thing to do.

“ is year’s 8th graders have the opportunity to go to Pomona for some of the electives, and the following year, there will be more opportunities for students to engage with older students in some sort of mentorship,” she continued.

As students continue from the middle school grades to high school grades at Pomona, they may also be

able to earn college credit and focus their studies in a particular career eld.

“Our intention is to be able to o er a more enriched experience for middle school-aged students than they would have in a traditional middle school,” Stokes said.

Stokes also wants to pay tribute to Moore Middle School in its nal year. e school has been part of the community since its construction in 1978.

“ is is a big transition for both the students, sta and the community,” she said. “I want to celebrate the history of Moore and also make sure students have a good experience this year, regardless of the change that’s coming.”

To make Pomona a 6-12 facility, plans call for creating a 6th and 7thgrade wing, separate from the rest of the school population, and adding a drop-o area for those younger students who don’t yet drive. e cafeteria will also be expanded to accommodate 6th through 9th-grade students who, unlike high school students, likely will eat lunch on site.

Cost estimates for the work are $1.8 to $2.5 million. Relou said the district likely could allocate about $1.8 million in unused funds originally designated for Moore improvements to the work at Pomona. Additionally, combining

the two allows the school to maximize resources, enhance opportunities for all students and save an anticipated $1.1 million annually.

District o cials don’t yet know the future of the building that now houses

will follow the property disposition process.   rough that process, Je co school leaders will ask a diverse group of stakeholders to help determine the best use for each school that closes.

Incoming Moore Middle School Principal Tamsen Stokes, currently assistant principal at Golden High School, will oversee Moore’s final year. COURTESY PHOTO

An Arvada West High School grad’s journey to the U.S. Naval Academy

BY LILLIAN FUGLEI LFUGLEI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

For many high school seniors, the college application process is complicated. But for Arvada West High School graduate Isabelle Lopez, applications were a special kind of complicated.

Why so complicated? Lopez is attending the United States Naval Academy.

For Lopez, the application began with a nomination from a senator or congressman. She interviewed with Rep. Perlmutter and received an appointment from him.

But, that was just the rst step. Lopez then had to ll out a fairly typical college application and undergo a physical readiness test. e test evaluated her in a variety of ways, such as a mile run, pull ups, push ups and more.

ere was one more hurdle before acceptance: a medical test. For this, Lopez lled out a lengthy medical form and was evaluated by a military

doctor.

While waiting for her medical results, Lopez received an appointment to the academy–contingent on her medical evaluation being passed. When she got the results back weeks later, she learned she had failed–on ve di erent accounts.

From there, she had to appeal each failure separately.

“I was going to two doctor’s appointments for every little disqualication. So we went to our military doctor as well as a specialist doctor for each of those disquali cations,” said Lopez. “When we got it back they approved everything except for one disquali cation. And the process was pretty much looking like it was over for me.”

ere was one last resort for Lopez, which was having a representative from congress ght for her acceptance. With help from Rep. Pettersen, she was nally in.

“I came home and there is a sign in our yard that says ‘Proud home

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of the United States Naval Academy midshipman.’ I was like, well, either my mom put that in the yard like trying to manifest that’s gonna happen or it did happen,” said Lopez. “It kind of felt unreal, because it had been so up and down with everything. With every high came in low, and every accomplishment came a setback as well.”

With the acceptance behind her, Lopez is looking toward the future. For her, that means Plebe Summer, starting June 29.

Plebe summer is a period of training before school starts in the fall. After being inducted into the Naval Academy, Lopez, along with her fellow freshman, will have limited access to the outside world, with no access to television, movies, the internet or music. She’ll get three phone calls during the six-week period.

Afterward, Lopez hopes to major

in political science and become an intelligence officer in the Navy. Once she’s graduated, she’s committed to five years of service in the Navy.

For now, Lopez is just excited for the opportunity to participate in track at the Naval Academy.

“I just fell in love with the campus and the idea of being able to run in college,” said Lopez. “And then what it offers after I graduate.”

For Michelle Lopez, Isabelle’s mother, the application process was difficult but well worth the effort.

“But in the end, it paid off. We kept being told, it’s all part of the process. And it’s all okay, so it was hard then when it would turn out to not go that way,” Michelle said.

“It was a very big learning experience. But it definitely was well worth every effort that was put forth.”

Isabelle Lopez’s journey to the United States Naval Academy was long, but worthwhile. PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHELLE LOPEZ

Westminster’s Wave Car Care Center closes after 35 years

BY LILLIAN FUGLEI LFUGLEI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

After 35 years, the Wave Car Care Center has officially closed its doors.

The Wave was opened in 1988. In 2003, the current owners, Angela and Wayne Palinckx, purchased the business. Wayne had been an employee since 1988, so taking over the store felt like a natural next step for the couple.

“We really loved the area, my husband grew up in that area. I had lived there for a long time,” said Angela. “The community was very close to us. So we wanted to stay there and build our future there.”

For 20 years, Angela and Wayne ran the store with the help of Wayne’s brother, David Palinckx. It was a family business, Angela and Wayne’s children worked there, as did several of their nephews.

Owning the store for so long created a real community for the family.

“So many people have been there since my husband started working there. You know, they were coming in bringing their parents cars, now they’re bringing their cars and their kids cars,” said Angela. “Our regulars were phenomenal…it was really neat to watch that transition over the years of the (different) generations coming in.”

Unfortunately, as minimum wage rose and car wash prices did not, it became harder to stay open.

“We were not going to be able to afford to give the customers the product without making it so pricey that it just wasn’t fair to the customer,” Angela said.

Express car washes also posed a threat to the Wave’s more traditional approach. Without the cost of labor, express car washes could charge lower prices.

The Palinckx family was approached by CobbleStone Car Wash, which wanted to buy the Wave and turn it into another CobbleStone Car Wash location. They sold the business and closed earlier this summer.

For Angela and Wayne, the future still isn’t completely clear. They’re still trying to decide what their next steps will be.

“We’re sad, because it was our whole entire lives for so many

years,” Angela said. “So it is very sad. But we know it was the right thing to do. It’s just still a little surreal.”

However, the community still remains a bright point for the couple. From employees to customers, the people were what made the business worthwhile.

“What (Wayne) loved is especially early on (employees) become your friends or like your kids, and you get to watch them grow, and then reward them when they do,” said Angela. “That’s something that we’ll definitely miss.”

Overall, Angela emphasized how thankful she was for the community the Wave created.

“They did a lot for us in our family over the years, being such good customers. And our employees,” Angela added. “I mean, probably not that many car washes have a dozen employees that were there for over 10 years.”

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The Wave Car Care Center car washers at work.

PHOTO COURTESY OF ANGELA PALINCKX

Idaho Springs receives $2.4 million grant toward transportation hub

BY DEBORAH SWEARINGEN SPECIAL TO COLORADO COMMUNITY MEDIA

Idaho Springs has received a $2.4 million federal grant that will be used for planning and designing a downtown transportation and mobility hub meant to improve safety and accessibility and address traffic impacts in the city.

“It’s the best news we ever could have hoped for,” Idaho Springs Mayor Chuck Harmon said.

Among other things, the project includes a roundabout at Exit 240 of Interstate 70, a multilevel parkings structure, and pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, including a connection to the Clear Creek Greenway.

It will also include Idaho Springs’ Miner Street redevelopment project, formally set forth in late 2021 when the city approved a downtown plan to guide improvements for the next 15 to 20 years. The plan is also heavily influenced by takeaways from the Miner Street Marketplace, a pedestrian mall enacted during the pandemic to support economic recovery in the city.

While officials say the project is vital for Idaho Springs, it will impact much of the state, given Idaho Springs’ location along Interstate

70, a major thoroughfare.

“This will be a really important amenity for the citizens of Colorado,” Harmon said. “This is actually a good way to lessen the emissions from I-70 since we’re going to promote electric-vehicle charging and public transportation.”

The grant funding is available through the Department of Transportation’s Rebuilding American

Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) discretionary grant program, which invests in road, rail, transit and port projects across the country, according to a news release.

The November 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law increased funding for these grants.

Earlier this year, Rep. Joe Neguse wrote a letter to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg in support of the project and the city’s grant pursuit.

“This project would also address historic impacts related to the construction of Interstate 70 in the city,” Neguse wrote in the letter. “The new roundabout will ease driver deceleration as they exit the high-speed interstate and enter the low-speed residential and commercial areas of downtown Idaho Springs as well as improving access to the city’s historic commercial district.”

Harmon said the grant would have been far less likely without support from the Colorado Department of Transportation and backing from officials such as Neguse, Gov. Jared Polis, and Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper.

The support is overwhelming, Harmon said.

“My hat’s off to staff in Idaho

Springs. They really worked hard,” he added.

Idaho Springs City Administrator Andrew Marsh previously said he expected the project to cost around $40 million with the transportation upgrades and water and sewer work included in that estimate.

This RAISE grant will help offset some of that cost, and the city has applied for a separate RAISE grant to assist with the construction costs, Harmon noted. It hopes to begin construction in about two years.

Meet Marco!

Janine Schriner of Floyd Hill, right, tosses a bag toward China Tipton as they warm up before competing in the Miner Street Market’s cornhole league. The Miner Street Market is part of a redesign of Idaho Springs’ downtown area, and a RAISE grant will help the city reach those goals. FILE PHOTO BY CORINNE WESTEMAN

Homelessness pushes out to the Colorado foothills and Denver suburbs

BY ALAN GIONET CBS NEWS COLORADO

In an RTD lot next to an open power outlet, they made their home. Kari Vernon and her boyfriend were living by a power box near a light pole in the green grass. ere was a pile of things including suitcases and clothes, covered by a loose tarp. But it hadn’t been raining.

“Missed the bus that last three days because only three buses that leave here in the morning and three that come here in the afternoon. So if you miss them three buses, you’re stuck here,” she said. ey had come to Evergreen to get away from the city.

“Denver, I will never stay down there,” she said.

“It’s like once the sun goes down, it’s crazy.”

Crime and drugs and alcoholism among the homeless population are a worry.

“We’ve had a lot of stu stolen. We’ve started over like seven times because all of our belongings are gone.”

All over the metro area and foothills, homelessness has been spreading out.

In Je erson County, many of the homeless are originally from the area. ere are no year round overnight shelters in Je erson County, so people either create their own shelter in places like parking lots or open spaces, or head into Denver where there is overnight shelter. But during the day, many return.

“ ey wind up coming back and

they’re afraid. Because it’s too crowded. It’s overcrowded they say and there’s more crime in general,” said Karen Cowling, director of Mission Arvada at e Rising Church. “ ey prefer to be in the environment that they’re used to in a place where they feel safer.”

Originally Mission Arvada at e Rising Church was asked by the city to help provide services to a growing homeless population. Mass transportation helps people get back and forth from the city and is part of what made Arvada attractive to people experiencing homelessness.

“ e transit is right here. e parks and open space areas and restaurants and it’s a desirable place for people to be homeless and otherwise,” said Cowling. More and more people are seeking refuge here and in places like Lakewood and even Evergreen.

“For the last ve years I would say, people are coming out into the suburbs,” said Cowling.

Vernon and her boyfriend moved from Florida where crime was a problem as well. “My older son moved here and he was like Mom come on and check it out,” she explained. He lives in Broom eld where he is concerned about his mother’s situation.

“He worries about me all the time,” said Vernon. “His wife’s like, he worries about you from the moment he wakes up until he goes to sleep.”

Now with more family news, she says she is thinking about nding housing and work.

“My youngest son’s going to have a baby. I just want a normal life back.”

In the past she has worked doing housekeeping and as a 7-11 clerk, which she says was her favorite job. With the help of Evergreen Christian Outreach she now has ID again.

“ ey got my ID for me so now I can get a job. Because I lost all my birth certi cate and everything but

now I’m slowly getting it all back.” Vernon and her boyfriend, who does not come out of the shelter to talk, plan on getting to the bus in the morning to go down to Denver for services.

In Arvada homeless people collect in the area around the train station. Some are an agitation to businesses. ose with mental health problems can be intimidating and hard to shoo away. Cowling says the cost of housing and need for services leaves people on the streets who should not be is costly in other ways.

“Our economy and just the state of our situation in terms of not having enough mental health services and not having enough rehab and drug and alcohol treatment.”

Recently the mission has been under pressure to move from Olde Town due to a belief that o ering services attracts a homeless population, which has increased in recent years.

“We are trying to advocate for our clients that are experiencing homelessness, but we are also trying to work with the city and the community and make sure that our area is clean and orderly. So we’re kind of the balance.”

Clients served by the mission have to follow rules. Not all do and are banned. Not providing assistance she says would mean only more people without services, not fewer people dealing with homelessness. “Oh, no, no, no, no, absolutely not.”

On the morning after talking about their situation at the Evergreen Park and Ride lot Kari Vernon and her boyfriend slept in, unwilling to come out of their enclosure to talk. The 7:40 bus came and went. They were still there.

Colorado Community Media and CBS News Colorado share stories as part of a newsgathering partnership.

A homeless encampment near a bus stop and parking lot. CBS NEWS COLORADO

The true story behind DIA’s conspiracy-ridden murals

BY ELLE NAEF, ALEXIS KIKOEN, PETER VO ROCKY MOUNTAIN PBS

e iconic murals displayed at DIA created by Leo Tanguma have drawn attention from people around the world since the early 1990s. Unfortunately, much of the focus has been on the imagery of destruction rather than the storyline that ends with a vision of world peace.

Along with other elements of DIA (recently rebranded to DEN), conspiracy theories about the murals have gone viral — rumors of Nazi or Illuminati ties, and warnings of the “new world order.” While these claims are unfounded, they have made a signi cant impact on the lives of the artists.

“I need to see what’s wrong in society, and then re ect it in my murals. At the same time, I wanted to re ect what’s beautiful in society and in my community,” Tanguma said.

Twenty-eight years after unveiling the murals, Tanguma spoke to Rocky Mountain PBS at his granddaughter’s home surrounded by family photos and artwork. His daughter and collaborator Leticia Darlina Tanguma was nearby o ering emotional support, welling with pride as her father re ected on his artistic legacy.

“It was a spiritual awakening for me,” he added. “I’ve always been spiritual, I think. But those experiences moved me more to consider that what I had in my abilities was a God-given talent. And I think that was made important in those murals.”

e murals at the airport, now temporarily in storage, depict the terrors of war and pollution. Amongst the chaos is a group of sleeping children. From their minds extends a grey mist that turns into a rainbow, leading to a portrayal of an ideal world, entitled “In Harmony with Peace and Nature.”

Despite the e ort Tanguma, Darlina, and their supporters poured into the murals, the type of fame and recognition they received wasn’t what many artists pine for. Since their unveiling, conspiracy theories about the murals have run rampant.   Darlina learned about some of the rumors in the early 2000’s. She recalls hearing, “‘People hate that mural. ey say, you wanted 9/11 because of that gure of war. ey say that in the Bible, all these dirty animals are unclean. ey say, ‘Why are you painting people in co ns?’ And, you know, just on and on where it became a terrible conspiracy.”

e delayed construction of the airport continued to feed rumors of secret underground networks, and with each new idea came a web of uncredible theories attempting to tie

other works of art at the airport, like the mustang sculpture nicknamed “Blucifer,” to rumors of plotted terror.

People have pro ted from books and documentaries about the theories, but Tanguma and Darlina say they have rarely been asked about the actual meaning behind the murals.

And while many people nd the conspiracies laughable (DIA has even turned some into a marketing opportunity), the consequences of these rumors are far from funny for the Tanguma family.

According to Darlina, the conspiracy theories started before the murals were even complete.

“We did have a few people come in at the time that were painting it. ey said, ‘don’t paint this. ere’s a new world order.’ We had no idea what they were talking about back then.” Darlina shared.

As soon as the conspiracy theories began, Tanguma lost two valuable commissions, and according to Darlina, both of them were harassed. Some people even resorted to death threats.

“People have said things like, ‘You need to destroy the art. You need to destroy the artist who did this,’” she recalled.

“I thought and I still think that these people are deranged,” said Tanguma. “For example, one religious minister called the mural satanic. Others said that they saw demons.”

Despite the airport allowing Darlina to have plaques installed explaining the murals, the conspiracies continued.

Darlina said that while people have the right to interpret art as they would like, it’s important to acknowledge the cruelty behind how these theories unfolded. She said that to overlook the important messages of peace, justice and hope the murals were meant to portray causes harm to entire communities.

“ ey’re [the conspiracies] destroying the artwork, too.” explained Darlina. “I’ve met other people that have been so depressed,” she continued, referring to people who feared the conspiracy theories were true.

Family friend of the Tagumas, Cheryl Detwiler Mihaka, also helped create the murals. Taguma said that her talent combined with Darlina’s helped them portray a deep sense of compassion in their art.

“Both my daughter and Cheryl had experienced physical violence in relationships, so that also humanized them more,” he shared. “So, I had not only fantastically talented young women working with me, but also they brought me back to the

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Sometimes we just have to laugh at ourselves, right? Or is it that sometimes we just have to laugh with ourselves?

I am not laughing at you; I am laughing with you kind of thinking as we look in the mirror. My laughing at myself moment came the other day while I was traveling. I had boarded my ight and was checking my email on my phone before we took o . As I tried loading my email app, it took about 8 seconds. And in those 8 seconds I became frustrated and thought why is this taking so long? Cue the laughing at myself.

Each year as technology advances our need for speed seems to advance with it. We want information and we want it now. We not only want it now, but we also expect the information to be fed to us before we even have to think about it, we train the technology to understand what we like and want before we ever even have to search for it, we simply turn on our device and lo and behold there it is waiting for us to consume it.

In a recent meeting with a partner,

Moving at a snail’s pace

they were discussing how their technology could serve up information in real time, measuring response times in milliseconds. Again, we have become a culture that has a need for speed, instant grati cation.

As I came across a snail the other day, I watched it move slowly across the pavement. And I found myself fascinated by the slow and deliberate pace of the snail. I know it is a snail and snails aren’t equipped to move any faster, so they have to settle for the slow pace at which they move. It took the snail ve minute or so to cross the pavement and move into the grass. Just ve minutes, which for us could now feel like an eternity.

So in that moment I re ected on my own need for speed. Although I can’t slow down advancements in technology that are designed to speed things up, nor can I or should

I worry about others and their need for speed, I can decide when it’s time to slow things down for myself. Can my walks along the shoreline be a little slower so I can appreciate the sounds of the waves lapping against the sand, taking in the salt air, and maybe nding a unique shell or piece of sea glass? Can my hikes in the mountains be slowed down just a bit so I can take in the wild owers, watch the streams rushing down the mountainside, or look out at the amazing vistas from the openings through the trees?

We are de nitely a society on the go. We want the speed limits to be higher, our ights to get us to our destination faster. We want our meals delivered to our homes or tables in unreasonably fast times. We expect the elevator to show up as soon as we press the button. It’s the pace of the race these days that we are trying to keep up with and the pace is getting quicker and quicker each day.

I thought about the snail again. And as I did, I was reminded that moving at a snail’s pace is okay

sometimes. I enjoy a slow brewing pot of co ee as it lls the kitchen with that beautiful co ee aroma. I love reading and spending time slowly letting the story develop and not racing to nish the book. I nd it so much more meaningful to pray slowly as it connects me at a deeper level to those I am praying for and to my faith. And when I can slow down enough before rushing out of the house to write notes to my family and leave them around the house, it makes everyone feel so loved and appreciated.

Is it time to slow down a bit for you? Are you running a race that just gets faster and faster all the time? I would love to hear your story at gotonorton@gmail.com, and when we can move at a snail’s pace sometimes, it really will be a better than good life.

Michael Norton is an author, a personal and professional coach, consultant, trainer, encourager and motivator of individuals and businesses, working with organizations and associations across multiple industries.

How would you spend money if you were the governor of Colorado?

If creating a budget involves making choices, then it should follow that the choices made in that budget should bene t everyone involved. A budget with expenditures made for the entire state of Colorado ought to bene t all citizens of our state if not directly, then at least indirectly.

It should be remembered that conservatives are not against government expenditures per se. What we are against are waste and poorly considered spending.

If I were the governor of Colorado, I would submit a budget with these two large expenditures for approval by our legislature to bene t all citizens of Colorado.

1. A second medical school. e CU-Anschutz Medical Center accomplishes a great deal for our state. In my

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opinion, a second allelopathic medical school is needed to serve our expanding population. at proposed medical school should have clinics spread out around the state to serve our rural residents in their own communities. Done properly, this school would complement CU-Anschutz.

A second medical school would bring employment opportunities with good-paying jobs directly wherever its main campus would be located as well as to the satellite campuses within our state’s rural areas. Additional jobs

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would be created through a multiplier e ect as a result of the jobs created directly by the proposed medical school.

Construction of such a school could be nanced through bonds and ultimately if this school is planned correctly, it would add revenue to the state budget rather than subtract revenue. Finally, it should be noted that other states than Colorado support two publicly funded medical schools.

2. Strengthen the power grid. Our basic ability to function in today’s society is regulated by the power grid that supplies electricity around our state. Imagine all of the conveniences that we enjoy in life from the internet to HVAC including running water. Now imagine them gone.

at is what would happen if the power grid were to fail whether

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through sabotage or by an accident of nature like a solar are. Everyone in our state has a stake in the power grid continuing to function.

When I had the consequences described to me by an activist, I asked what things would be like if the power grid failed. I used the TV show “Jericho” which ran from 2006-08 as a benchmark.

e activist told me that the situation in Colorado would be worse than that of the show “Jericho.” e premise behind “Jericho” was life in the United States after a post-nuclear attack. at illustration should explain how serious and important maintaining and strengthening the power grid is to our state.

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Sci-Fi Film series is back for another year of education, entertainment

Sci-Fi lms are some of the most innovative and impactful to ever be put on screen — just look at the way lms like “2001: A Space Odyssey,” Star Wars, “ e Matrix” have inspired and directed popular culture. Few genres capture audiences’ imagination like sci- .   is at least partly explains why Denver Film and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’sannual Sci-Fi Film Series has become one of the signature events of the year.

“After 13 years, this is Denver Film’s most popular series,” said said Vincent Piturro, Ph.D., professor of lm and media studies at MSU Denver, who co-presents at each screening. “We want audiences to come away with the idea that art and science can work together — they’re not at odds.”   is year’s series kicks o on Wednesday, July 12 with the throwback classic,“THEM!,” then moves to “Everything Everywhere All At Once,” on July 19, followed by“Nope” on July 26, Brendan Fraser’s“ e Mummy” on Aug. 2, “Beyond the In nite Two Minutes” on Aug. 9 and“Little Shop of Horrors” on Aug. 16. Screenings will be held at the Sie Film Center, 2510 E. Colfax Ave. in Denver, and the Denver Museum of Nature & Science’s new In nity eater, 2001 Colorado Blvd.

“For our series, science ction is very di erent than what many people might think,” Piturro said. “Many people hear sci- and think aliens and outer space, but we go beyond far beyond that.”

According to provided information, each screening begins at 6:30 p.m. and is followed by a discussion led by Piturro, featuring a range of experts in di erent elds, including zoology, paleobotany and anthropology.

“ e scientists come up with the list of lms and we work to get diverse movies from all over the world,” Piturro said. “ is year is an eclectic bunch, but what we’ve discovered is that sci- lms say more about the time period the lm was made than when the story is set. So, that always makes for interesting conversation.”

Regardless of how familiar an au-

COMING ATTRACTIONS

dience member is with any particular lm, they’re going to come away from one of these presentations learning something new. And that was the goal when Piturro and the late Brit Withey, Denver Film artistic director, rst came up with the idea.

“ e essence of this goes back to the original conversation he and I had about presenting science and art together in a digestible package for the audience,” Piturro said. “People can learn science from a movie and a movie can inspire science.”   For full series details and tickets, visit www.denver lm.org.

CJRO honors queens of soul ere are many things to love about soul music, but one of the best is the leading ladies of the genre are some of the best singers of all time. And the Colorado Jazz Repertory Orchestra is honoring many of these legends with e Ladies of Soul: Celebrating the Music of Aretha Franklin.

e concert will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, July 15 at the Arvada Center, 6901 Wadsworth Blvd.

e CJRO will be joined by powerhouse vocalist Tatiana “LadyMay” May eld for an evening that will feature covers of songs from Chaka Kahn and Sade and an extended tribute to the Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin.

Tickets for what will be a night of classic after classic can be purchased at www.coloradojazz.org/ concerts.

Gather ‘round the BCLP campfire

Take advantage of one of Lakewood’s best resources and get some natural education at the same time.

Bear Creek Lake Park, 15600 W. Morrison Road, is hosting a weekly series of camp re Programs on Saturdays through July, each with a di erent theme: on July 8, Habitats of BCLP, on July 15, Bats of Bear Creek, on July 22, Close Encounters and on July 29, Ranger Day.

Each program is free and features roasting marshmallows as part of the evening (as long as there are no re bans). Find all the details at www.lakewood.org.

Clarke’s Concert of the Week — Al Green at Red Rocks

Al Green is the singer of “Let’s Stay Together.” He did that. If I did that, you wouldn’t be able to tell me anything for the rest of my life. But Green is also the voice beyond relentless classics like “Tired of Being Alone” and “I’m Still in Love With You.” In other words, you can’t have modern soul or pop music without this man.

e legend is going to be per-

forming at Red Rocks, 18300 W. Alameda Parkway in Morrison, with theColorado Symphonyat 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, July 12. As if this pairing wasn’t enough, blues master Keb’ Mo’will be the opener.

I’m pretty sure every week I say the concert I’m writing about is going to be special. And that’s true. But you don’t often get to see foundational gures in person and when those opportunities come around, they shouldn’t be missed. Get tickets at www.axs.com.

Clarke Reader’s column on culture appears on a weekly basis. He can be reached at Clarke.Reader@hotmail. com.

November 16, 1922 - June 20, 2023

Jewell M. Ban eld, 100, passed away on June 20, 2023. Jewell was born to Flem and Nellie ornton on November 16, 1922.

MADER

Suzanne Scott Mader

February 2, 1928 - June 21, 2023

Suzanne Scott Mader died peacefully in her home in Arvada, Colorado on June 21, 2023 at the age of 95. Born February 4, 1928 in Tekamah, Nebraska, Suzanne was the daughter of Dr. David C. Scott and Dorothy ( ompson) Scott.

Suzanne was a 1945 graduate of Tekamah High School and after attending business school in Omaha, Nebraska, worked as a secretary for the Omaha National Bank. It was during this time, she met and, ultimately married Walter E. Mader, Jr. of Omaha on October 3, 1954.

Shortly after marrying, Suzanne and Walter moved to Washington, D.C., where Suzanne worked for the U.S. Independent Telephone Association. After 3 years in the nation’s capital, Suzanne and Walter made their way through St. Louis and Kansas City, Missouri before making Arvada, Colorado their forever

home in 1970. It was in Arvada that Suzanne worked as a Teacher’s Aide at Peck Elementary School for 24 years. Suzanne was an avid reader, loved the beach and her Florida vacations, shell collecting, and cruises. She is preceded in death by her sisters Maribelle (Scott) Severine of Ft. Wayne, Indiana and Priscilla (Scott) Holm of Blair, Nebraska. She is survived by her husband, Walter, son Walter E. Mader, III and his wife, Kristen (Bush) Mader, and daughter Amy S. Mader, along with 3 grandchildren, two nieces and a nephew.

A memorial service will take place at Horan & McConaty in Arvada on July 24th at 11:30 am. Burial service will be private for the immediate family at Ft. Logan National Cemetery.

CDOT maintains our highways regularly to the consternation of many commuters. But what the department does is essential for Colorado. e power grid is much like our highways and in some respects even more essen-

tial than highways. I will focus on the power grid in a future opinion piece.

I hope that my two choices for the budget have made you, dear reader, think about what should be in a budget for our state. Let me pose a question: How would you spend money if you were the governor or a legislator?

Joe Webb is the former chairman of the Je co Republican party.

BANFIELD Jewell M. Banfield

Clarke Reader

How to take up running, from starting out to marathons

BY ELLIS ARNOLD EARNOLD@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Roxane Geisler started running in high school as a new challenge — somebody told her she should run cross country.

“I didn’t even know how to run a mile,” said Geisler, who is now president of the Highlands Ranch Running Club.

Getting into running “just gradually happened for me,” said Geisler, who is 54. “Suddenly, I was like, ‘Oh, I really do enjoy it, and I love getting out and seeing the views.’”

For people who are inexperienced at running but want to improve, it’s key not to be intimidated, Geisler said.

“A lot of people think, ‘Oh, I can’t join the running club because I’m not a real runner.’ And that’s totally silly,” Geisler said. “If you run, you’re a runner.”

Ryan Marker, an assistant professor who teaches exercise physiology at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, said it’s important for beginners to start slow. “Setting appropriate expectations, I think, is really important,” Geisler said. “So if someone’s never run before, you’re not going to get o the couch and do a marathon.”

But with the right plan, even beginners can work their way up to a marathon within months. (Here’s a tip: You don’t have to run the whole thing.)

Here’s some advice on how to start running or take your training to the next level.

Part of the group

One thing that can help you get into running: nding a group of runners to keep you moving.

When Geisler moved to Highlands Ranch in 2003, she noted how many people were out running by themselves.

She learned about the Highlands Ranch Race Series, and part of the idea behind starting her running club was to get some runners to train together.

“It makes running so much easier, training so much easier, when you have people to train with,” Geisler said.

And the people she’s met through her club “were a tremendous in uence on me — just people who really push themselves and try to get the best out of themselves,” said Geisler, who has run marathons.

e club provides a communal atmosphere:

Ryan Marker, who lives in Centennial, finishes a marathon last fall.

PHOTO BY DAVID MERRILL

LONG RUN

Runners don’t just work out but also make connections in her group. “De nitely lots of friendships have formed, and even a few people have met their spouses,” Geisler said.

Starting out

For beginners who are getting over the initial hump of starting to run, it’s important not to bite o more than you can chew, said Marker, who works in the department of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the CU Anschutz Medical Campus.

“If you’re just starting, even running for a mile, say — or even less than that — is meaningful,” Marker said.

Another strategy, he said, is to remember you don’t have to run consistently for a whole workout. “Run for ve minutes and walk for two,” Marker said as an example of setting planned walk intervals. at method “can help people build up their initial capacity.”

For runners ages 35 and up, Geisler said starting slow can help, like working toward a goal of “I’m going to run this whole mile without walking,” she said. “And then go from there.”

Also important: making sure you have the right running shoes for you. Geisler recommends getting a shoe tting at a specialty running store like Runners Roost.

“You can really get injuries if you don’t have the right footwear,” Geisler said.

Mental game

“Running is a mental sport” is a cliché for a reason — getting your mind used to running is a big part of the battle.

Di erent strategies can help you tackle the mental aspect of running, according to Marker.

“One very accessible one is goal setting … maybe you’re someone that really thrives on, you know, competition, getting a personal best,” Marker said. For those people, always having an appropriate race that you’re training for can help.

For others, distraction works well, so nd a good music playlist or podcast or audiobooks, Marker suggested.

Or opt for using running as a headclearing experience.

“I can almost do a mindfulness type of thing in running,” Marker said, adding: “Especially if you’re trail running, it can make you stop thinking of other things.”

Gearing up for a marathon

For those who aim to run a marathon — about 26 miles or 42 kilometers — it’s a good idea to schedule an initial training plan of at least six months, Marker said.

For inexperienced runners, there’s “not a small chance that you may get injured in that time, so you want to incorporate some bu er room,” Marker said. at’s partly so if you do develop an injury, you can adjust your training instead of trying to push through the pain and making it worse.

Expecting a long training period can help you eld interruptions that

may pop up.

“Life happens,” Marker said, adding that if you have a busy week at work, for instance, and are not able to stick with your training plan, there’s no need to feel that you’ve failed and have to stop.

In terms of distance, “you want to get in at least one longer run a week,” Marker said.

Expect to run three to four days per week at minimum and six days per week at most.

at’s because runners need to incorporate rest periods to avoid overtraining problems, Marker said, adding that it’s important to give your body time to adapt.

It may surprise you to hear that you shouldn’t be about to keel over throughout your run when training for a marathon.

“It’s not a bad idea to keep most of your training at moderate intensity,” said Marker, who referenced “the talk test.”

at’s “the idea that you’re doing moderate intensity exercise if you’re able to relatively easily carry on a conversation (while) you do that exercise,” Marker said.

If it gets so hard to breathe that you can’t say more than a few words without pausing for breath, that would be higher-than-moderate intensity.

In “the marathon, you’re going to be going at a relatively steady pace for a long period of time,” Marker said, adding it’s a good idea for your training to re ect that pace.

Yes, runners walk

You could call it running or “com-

pleting” a marathon.

“ ere’s no shame if you incorporate walking into a marathon,” Marker said.

“When you get to the elites, they’re running the entire time, and they’re running a pace that people, even me, couldn’t keep up even a 10th of the distance,” said Marker, who has done a couple marathons and one ultramarathon. (An ultramarathon is anything longer than a marathon, he said. e one he did was 50 miles.)

For walking, the biggest tip is making sure it’s planned, Marker said.

“ e moment you start walking because you’re tired,” that can be “game over,” he said.

He added: “You want to have more ‘on’ than ‘o ’ — not ending up with a 50/50 split” of time spent running and walking.

Fuel on the way

Something else you might not know: People training for marathons eat while on the run. at could be energy gels or bars, Marker said.

“I’d say if your long runs are starting to get longer than an hour, that might be a good time to gauge how you’re feeling,” Marker said, adding it could help to start bringing food with you.

Hit the gym

Strength training — not just running — can be key to pushing your running further, as it can help with injury prevention.

“If someone has the time and they’re able to incorporate strength training into their routine,” Marker said, “it can de nitely help them.”

Highlands Ranch Running Club volunteers stand at the Backcountry Wilderness Half Marathon in November.

COURTESY PHOTO

A mural at Denver International Airport.

spirituality of what we were trying to do.”

Tanguma also explained why he wanted the mural to come from the perspective of a child. “I think

that there is a certain innocence among the oppressed, among the people that are uneducated, that don’t have access, practically, to life.”

Tanguma was also influenced by his work with youth who had been imprisoned, and others who were high schoolers that he painted alongside.

“I think that my connection with painting with young people, there’s been that that I’ve seen the possibilities and I’ve seen the destruction,” he summarized.

The focus of youth seemed to add to the draw of passers-by, who also impacted the direction of the murals. Between 1992 and 1995, Tanguma painted murals in

a room in the Lakeside Mall. The combination of large panels and Mexican music drew in curious patrons.

Word spread of the work in progress, and parents asked for their children to be depicted in “Children of the World Dream of

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Researchers see a future for psychedelic therapy

Fort Collins study looks at potential uses of LSD

BY LEIGH PATERSON KUNC

Interest in the possible mental health bene ts of psychedelics is growing as experiments to better understand these substances are moving ahead.

In Fort Collins, researchers at the Wholeness Center are examining the potential therapeutic use of LSD and, in particular, how — and at what dosage — it may impact people with generalized anxiety disorder.

After a lengthy screening process, study participants go to the Wholeness Center for a 12 hour day with two therapists. ey are unaware of what they will be swallowing: a placebo or various amounts of LSD.

“Particularly through the second hour or the third hour, people are in a very di erent frame of mind,” Dr. Scott Shannon, one of the principal study investigators, said of the people who get LSD instead of the placebo. “ e trees may be breathing, the couch may be moving. And some people will nd this incredibly curious. Other people may be a little intimidated.”

e two therapists are there to reassure participants and calm them down. e experimental sessions taking place in Fort Collins are part of a larger study at 20 sites across the country funded by MindMed, a New York-based biotech company. e company plans to announce topline data from the clinical trials later this year.

“I tell people it’s like, if we’re living our life every day at street level then psychedelics are kind of like going up into a hot air balloon, or maybe even in a satellite, and you’re looking at

your life in a very di erent way, and insights come,” Shannon said. “ ey can be scary sometimes. ey can be terrifying.”

is experiment on LSD and anxiety is part of a much larger push to understand how various psychedelics can be used to treat mental health conditions. e e ort involves support from corporations, universities and nonpro ts. Earlier this year, the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus announced an upcoming clinical trial to test whether psilocybin can help with treatment-resistant depression.

Past research e orts have indicated that psilocybin—also called magic mushrooms—can ease anxiety, particularly for cancer patients.

“We have some suggestion that psychedelics can be helpful for anxiety, and this is a study to try to test that,” Shannon said. this quote was a little long and wordy, I think it can be

shortened. e rest has already been explained outside of the quote.

Much of this research has been on hold for decades. After widespread use in the 1960s, the federal government classi ed psychedelics as Schedule 1 drugs, meaning they lack an accepted medical use and have a high potential for abuse.

“It really shut down research in this country for a long, long time. And it’s now just restarting,” Shannon explained.

Eventually, researchers began requesting licenses from the federal government to study some psychedelics. After encouraging results, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has allowed some of this work to move ahead more quickly by granting “breakthrough therapy” status to certain substances.

Luke Niforatos, the CEO of Protect Our Kids, a group that ghts for more restrictive drug policies and recently opposed Colorado’s ballot measure to decriminalize magic mushrooms, believes in the importance of following the FDA’s process.

“I think the concern that I have is, we’re seeing a lot of kind of breath-

less rhetoric around the...miracle drug potential of psychedelics,” Luke Niforatos, the CEO of Protect Our Kids, a group that ghts for more restrictive drug policies and recently opposed Colorado’s ballot measure to decriminalize magic mushrooms, said.

Niforatos points to the risks of other drugs like opioids and cannabis. In MindMed’s LSD trial in Fort Collins, some groups are excluded from participation: pregnant women and people with a history of psychosis. at’s because the risks of using psychedelics in these populations are not fully understood.

“ at’s not to say that these drugs don’t do what everyone’s really excited about,” Niforatos said. “But what it does mean, though, is it’s still early.” Research into a psychedelic called MDMA could be entering its nal phase before possible FDA approval.

Berra Yazar-Klosinski, the chief science o cer with the MAPS Public Bene t Corporation, said MDMA is further along in the process than other psychedelics thanks to a growing body of research on using it to treat mental health issues in conjunction with therapy.

She remembers looking over the results from a phase three clinical trial on using MDMA to treat PostTraumatic Stress Disorder, published in 2021 in the journal Nature Medicine. 88% of the participants experienced a meaningful change in their symptoms. Around two-thirds no longer met the criteria for a PTSD diagnosis.

“Oh, my gosh. It was so exciting,” Yazar-Klosinski said of the results.

Later this year, Yazar-Klosinski will be walking the FDA through the data as part of a larger request to approve MDMA-assisted therapy.

“It was such a huge surprise that everybody was just shocked and very happy for the PTSD patients and what this could mean for them,” Yazar-Klosinski said.

is KUNC story via e Associated Press’ Storyshare, of which Colorado Community Media is a member.

Dr. Scott Shannon holds up a refrigerated bottle of eight pills, which could contain LSD, on May 25, 2023. He is one of the principal investigators on a study researching the impact of LSD on anxiety taking place in Fort Collins.

JENNIFER COOMBES/KUNC

DIA

Peace.” Amongst the parents were some who had lost their children and asked Tanguma to memorialize them in the mural.

One mother asked for a depiction of her son who had recently passed from suicide, another whose daughter was killed while helping her friend escape an abusive situation. Some had lost their children to gang violence.

Also featured in the mural was Tanguma’s young granddaughter, her cousins and classmates, and well-known children from around the world such as young activist Samantha Smith, (who passed in a plane crash), or brothers who marched for peace in Afghanistan. And while originally, he hadn’t planned to include political elements, Tanguma said the need to depict the injustices of war became apparent — an issue he was all too familiar with after having served in the military.

While painting the children, Tanguma asked for the families’ countries of origin, and depicted the children in the traditional clothing from each area. Over

time, as many as 70 different countries were portrayed.

“These are fantastic experiences that have to mold you, because you see the beauty of humanity daily, from many, many countries of the world,” he reminisced.

Tanguma hoped that by including each of these countries, the artists could spread a message of peace to places beyond Colorado.

“I saw that as an opportunity to take the ideas that I have learned in my own community, a community where they are aspiring for greater civil rights and cultural identity, that permitted me to share those ideas with the passers-by from almost any country in the world.”

Attempts to destroy the artwork of the Tanguma family are not new to them. Leo Tanguma has faced critiques of his work since he was a child in Texas.

“When I was in the fifth grade in elementary school, I did some drawings on the blackboard about my classmates killing our town Sheriff,” he recalled.

“So, I got severely punished for that. But the reason I did that is because the sheriff in our hometown was the killer. He had killed, up to that point, seven MexicanAmericans -- including two of my mom’s cousins.”

Tanguma continued to do artwork portraying both injustice and visions for resolution. He was commissioned for a mural while stationed in Germany, and once again in the 1960s when he was transferred to California. There, he did a mural honoring the Mexican American movement for civil rights.

Eventually, his artist studio in his hometown of Houston was destroyed in a case of suspected arson. Around this time, his wife, Darlina’s mother, passed away from cancer. The family decided to try to start anew in Denver, where Darlina began her career as an artist while Tanguma continued creating well-known murals in places like the Denver Art Museum.

“Imagine a person that’s blacklisted in Houston. When I got to Denver, the Denver Art Museum asked me to do a mural inside the museum. What beautiful feelings that I had,” he shared. “But I still kept painting issues. I thought that besides the beautiful city and surroundings that I see, still there remained police brutality, education, women’s liberation, war.”

Through it all, Tanguma and his daughter have remained strong in their messages of hope, con-

nected to art, and perhaps most importantly, connected to each other.

“My daughter has been the most important figure that I’ve ever painted with,” Tanguma shared. “Because not only is she talented, but she’s aware, aware of conditions, aware of our culture and our history.”

And as far as the conspiracies go, they haven’t stopped the Tangumas either. “It made me more dedicated, I think, because after that I did a number of other murals with social and cultural meaning,” he said.

Darlina continues to collaborate with community in her artwork both independently and through the Redline Contemporary Art Center’s ‘Reach’ program, and Tanguma is planning a mural with students from East High School.

“I think rumors like the airport conspiracies and the mural conspiracies, they really seek to destroy the human connection, the human spirit.” Darlina said. “But I want to create artwork that will bring us together.”

This Rocky Mountain PBS story runs as part of a news sharing agreement with Colorado Community Media.

Retiring workers find new life through CU Denver program

BY JASON GONZALES CHALKBEAT COLORADO

Retirement can be about more than pickleball and world travel.

For some retirees, winding down a career could mean transitioning to other work or dedicating part of their time to passion projects, said Todd Matuszewicz, 60, who plans to retire soon. Figuring out which is next, however, is the hard part.

“After working for 35 years, at the end of it, there’s no exit strategy,” said Matuszewicz, a neon sign maker and former educator. “ at’s not taught as part of education. ey say here’s chemistry, here’s your history, but there was no one saying: We’re going to help you on the back side.”

But Matuszewicz found help through the University of ColoradoDenver’s Change Makers program.

e pilot program, which started this year, joins a growing list of programs nationwide that are helping older adults prepare for how they want to spend the next phase of their lives.

e program is a priority for school leaders who want to serve older adults because they want the school to be “a university for life,” said Anne Button, the program’s founding director.

Here and nationally, schools also have looked for new ways to bring in students. Some schools have faced declining enrollment since the pandemic, and lower birth rates will mean fewer college-age students to teach in the future.

While many people retire in their 60s, some live well beyond retirement, Button said. Many will also continue working, but don’t have a direction on how to use their skills without working full-time, Button said.

“Many people feel there’s a lot more productive time left,” Button said. “People at 60 really could have three decades left of productive years.”

e Change Makers program graduated its rst class of 17 students in the spring, including Matuszewicz. e program, which costs about $3,200, has students meet two nights a week over four months. Students

can audit classes, re ect on their accomplishments, and hear from guest speakers on topics such as aging, social-emotional health, and volunteering.

e program culminates in participants writing a 90-day plan on how to transition into their next job, wind down their careers, or nd another purpose.

Terri Harrington, 66, said she’s tried to come up with a plan for what’s next. e program didn’t inspire a great epiphany for her, but allowed her to map out how she would begin to slow down.

“It set aside time for me to think about it,” she said. “ ey also had us do di erent projects like look back on your life and chart out the signi cant events.”

One of her happiest memories is

cooking at the family farm in Nebraska, and she said that helped her realize how much she wants family to play a role in her retirement. Harrington said she wants to still work as an attorney, but also spend more time helping with her granddaughters and contribute occasionally at the family farm in Nebraska.

“I can spend more time there and spend more time with my family,” she said “I can work as little or as much as I want.”

For Matuszewicz, the class inspired him to try to nd exibility in his work schedule while still using the skills he’s acquired.

His goal is to step away from making signs and start a nonpro t that helps preserve Denver’s historic neon signs. e change would mean less hard labor, but would allow him to

still be connected to the neon sign work he loves.

“I’m hoping to transition into more of the public face of it,” he said.

Matuszewicz plans to submit a grant proposal to the National Trust for Historic Preservation to help him start his nonpro t. He has plenty of work ahead of him guring out how many neon signs need to be saved in the Denver area. He wants to ensure neon sign makers continue the tradition — he estimates there are only six sign makers in Denver — and that the city can keep its history.

It’s a busy but ful lling retirement plan, Matuszewicz said. And he’s happy pickleball isn’t a part of it.

Chalkbeat is a nonpro t news site covering educational change in public schools.

Todd Matuszewicz, 60, a neon sign creator, poses in front of a neon sign he restored. Matuszewicz participated in the University of Colorado Denver’s Change Makers program to help him figure out what he wants to do when he retires.

COURTESY OF TODD MATUSZEWICZ

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High Line Canal conservation group receives $350,000 as part of full canal protection goal

BY TEDDY JACOBSEN TJACOBSEN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

e High Line Canal, which winds 71 miles across the metro area, will soon be permanently protected as regional open space.

Great Outdoors Colorado, an environmental nonpro t, announced in June a $350,000 grant to High Line Canal Conservancy to help permanently protect the canal as a continuous recreational, ecological, historical and stormwater resource.

“Permanent protection of the canal has been a top-line goal of our board and organization since the beginning in 2014,” High Line Canal Conservancy CEO Harriet Crittenden LaMair said in a press release. “It’s extremely exciting to be actively working with Denver Water, Arapahoe County and other local governmental partners toward a permanent protection vehicle.”

e canal spans 860 acres and its associated trail system connects walkers, hikers, runners, cyclists, horseback riders and others to thousands more acres of parks and open spaces. e canal runs

through parts of Adams, Arapahoe, Denver and Douglas counties, spanning a solid slice of eastern metro area from north to south.

“It’s important for the community to know that the canal is preserved permanently for them to use freely into the future,” High Line Canal Conservancy Senior Director of Programs and Partnerships Suzanna Fry Jones told Colorado Community Media.

Jones said Denver Water will maintain ownership of the canal, but has been moving its customers to more sustainable sources of irrigation water in recent years.

Denver Water Senior Community Relations Specialist Jimmy Luthye said they plan to play an active role in the ongoing discussions about the canal’s future.

“ e evolution of the public’s use of the canal for recreation and stormwater management, along with its original role as a water delivery method is one of the reasons why Denver Water and regional partners, including cities, counties, park and ood districts and stormwater management entities, have partnered with the High Line Canal

Conservancy to assist their mission to preserve, protect and enhance the 71-mile canal,” Luthye said in an email to Colorado Community Media.

e conservancy is expected to complete legal work to secure protection, gather documentation of the present conditions of the canal and assess potential future projects with the grant.

Great Outdoors Colorado’s Director of Programs Chris Yuan-Farrell said the process will likely involve a conservation easement, which is a legal agreement that limits land use to protect its conservation values. Yuan-Farrell added that the grant is part of the environmental nonpro t’s land acquisition program, which supports urban and rural habitat protection priorities and increases access to the outdoors.

“ is is a substantial resource for Colorado to have and now it will be permanent,” Yuan-Farrell said. “Whereas before, there was always an opportunity for Denver Water to sell that property to somebody else. is grant helps take that o the table.”

He said the funding provided by

Great Outdoors Colorado should last the conservancy for years to come.

“ is is a fund for the conservancy to maintain and grow,” YuanFarrell said. “It’s like seed funding for a hopefully larger substantial endowment with the expectation that perhaps the municipalities and counties that have land by the canal will contribute to it.”

Great Outdoors Colorado invests a portion of Colorado Lottery proceeds to help with the preservation and enhancement of parks, trails, wildlife, rivers and open spaces, according to its website.

e nonpro t has awarded multiple grants to the High Line Canal Conservancy over the years. In 2022, Great Outdoors Colorado provided $41,100 to help rid parts of the canal of an invasive species.

“ eir funding has been so impactful to all of the work that we’ve done,” Jones said. “And this is the next big stage of our work for permanent protection.”

Jones said more details about the canal’s function as a fully conserved space are expected to come this fall.

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Where the West Rides!

Bike Cruise participants saddle up for fun summertime rides

BY CORINNE WESTEMAN CWESTEMAN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Goldenites were back in the saddle again June 27, as they donned their cowboy hats, untied their steeds from the hitching posts, and rode o into the sunset.

Hundreds of locals saddled up for the “Cowboys & Cowgirls”-themed Golden Bike Cruise, a summertime staple that fundraises for local nonpro ts.

e event, which is the last Tuesday of the month May through September, starts at the Armory parking garage and loops through north Golden before returning downtown. The bike cruise also features music by a local band, Golden-based food and beer vendors, and other local sponsors.

Golden Community Commons, a subset of Calvary Church, hosts the event and partners with a different nonprofit each month to share revenues. For June 27, it was the Rotary Club of Golden.

The cruises, which started about 16 years ago, raises about $3,000 a year for Golden Community Commons and about $600 each for five nonprofits, organizers explained.

The event also has a different theme each month, except for the September ride, which is always zombie-themed.

Organizers Peter Ewers and Jill Powers said June’s “Cowboys & Cowgirls” theme was coincidental, but saw how it aligned with Golden’s history and Old West feel.

“We are where the West lives,” Ewers said, referring to Golden’s iconic arch. “It’s a good way to harken to the past, as we enjoy today and look to the future.”

Rides can draw anywhere from 150-300 participants depending on the month and the weather. The May 30 event started with ominous clouds overhead, which Ewers and Powers said might have warded off some riders, but it ended up being a nice evening.

Overall, though, the Golden Bike Cruise is truly a homegrown event, drawing mostly locals for quality community time each summer, Ewers described.

Joe and Cristin Lasser, for instance, have been bringing their kids since 10-year-old Ezra was a baby. They’ve also started a tradition of celebrating Ayla’s birthday at the June bike cruise, and

brought a cake and decorations for her fifth birthday to the June 27 event.

It also worked out nicely that Joe’s band — Derek Hall & the Possibilities — played at the June 27 event.

Joe and Cristin said they return every summer because they love biking and the event’s sense of community, along with its vendors and music.

“It’s one of our favorite events in Golden,” Joe continued.

Meanwhile, the Taylor family members rode in their inaugural bike cruise after moving to Golden last month from northern Virginia. They described how they saw a flyer in a downtown shop and decided to try it out.

The Taylors — parents Nicholas and Jordana, and children Clara, Devon and Zoe — all enjoy cycling. It was one of the reasons they moved to Golden, Nicholas described. So, they planned to participate in the summertime bike cruises as often as possible, with Jordana emphasizing how it’s an activity all of them can do together.

The next cruise on July 25 will be “Tropical Paradise”-themed. For more information, visit goldenbikecruise.com.

A cyclist wears a cowboy hat as Golden Bike Cruise participants head down the Clear Creek trail June 27. PHOTOS BY CORINNE WESTEMAN

Siblings Ezra, Ayla and Lyle Lasser sport cowboy hats during the June 27 Golden Bike Cruise. The family also celebrated Ayla’s fifth birthday during the event.

Triple Crown International Challenge brings softball’s best to Colorado

30 teams representing countries around the globe clash in Westminster during third annual event

BY JOHN RENFROW JRENFROW@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Explosive cheers. e battle rhythm of drums. Air horns. All that and more collided in the air all day long, creating a festive and, at times, intense atmosphere around the Christopher Fields Softball Complex in Westminster. irty teams representing countries around the globe put on a wild showcase on the diamonds.

“For one weekend a year, they get a chance to [ditch their travel uniforms] and put a country in front of their jersey,” said Manny Travieso.

e event is the result of a partnership between Colorado’s Triple Crown Sports, and the ELLA Sports Foundation, a nonpro t whose mission is to level the playing eld for Latina and girl athletes as a whole.

Travieso is director of sports programming at ELLA, which stands for Empowering Leadership in Latina Athletes. It also means “she” in Spanish.

e event itself isn’t limited to girls with Spanish-speaking or Latina backgrounds. It’s meant to connect players to their family heritages.

e Triple Crown International Challenge brings an electric environment and the Westminster

complex has played host to it since 2021. e competition this year ran June 22-26. Friends and family from all over the country came to support their players.

e event was created, Travieso said, to showcase elite softball players in front of college coaches scouting for talent and in front of national Olympic teams. Also, to allow players from di erent nationalities and backgrounds to play for a country they could never otherwise play for due to political laws or Olympic restrictions, such as Cuba, Japan, or the Middle East

In the three-ish years since it was formed, Travieso said more than 45 di erent athletes have played in federations or national Olympic teams around the world largely due to the exposure from this event alone.

Colorado provides both the premier facilities in Westminster and an ideal middle-ground location in general for the athletes and their families, he said, many of which are traveling from as far as Florida, New York, and California.

“ is is the best of the best from all over the United States,” Travieso said. “College coaches can come over here and see the best talent possible. Every year it gets bigger and bigger and bigger.”

Adam Glickman, is the father of Kaia Glickman, who played in the inaugural Triple Crown event in 2021.

Kaia has since played in college, and is playing in the 2023 Canada Cup in July for Israel’s women’s

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national team. Adam Glickman praised the event for the opportunities it produces for athletes all over the country.

“[ is event] is an unusual opportunity for these girls and their families to connect softball to something other than their club or their high school, but to connect it to a nationality, a heritage,” Glickman said. “ at goes deep. at’s your grandparents. at’s your extended family. ey all get to take enormous pride when they see that kid with that ag and the name of the country. You’re playing for your family pride.”

You put together not just one, but more than 15 or 20 of those kids and their families, and it becomes playing for something much bigger than yourself, Glickman said.

e experience is di erent for every team, he explained. In Team Israel’s case, Israel is such a new country, relatively speaking, only born decades ago.

For their players and their families, it’s not about having a relative that’s from Israel, but it’s about recognizing Jewish culture and identity, he said.

“For a lot of our girls that come from 15 di erent states, very often they’re the only Jewish kid on the softball team,” Glickman said.

“ ere are no others, so they feel isolated. It’s hard for them to connect their Jewish life or their Jewish identity with the game they love. Finding others, it’s this idea, ‘Wait a second, there are other Jewish softball players who can play at this level?’ at’s extra special.”

For German Caravaca, the coach of the 18U Central America team, which represents several di erent countries, it’s about visibility and expanding the opportunities for his players at the next level and beyond.

Sophia Bertorelli of Team South America is on deck ready to bat framed by the many flags that represent the countries of players on the team. Thirty teams representing countries from all over the globe competed at the third annual Triple Crown International Challenge at the Christopher Fields Softball Complex from June 22-26.

He said three players from last year’s Central America team are playing for the women’s national team in Guatemala this year.

“My goal is for these players to have fun, come out here and excel, but also have those people from national teams watch them play,” Caravaca, from Florida, said.

“Hopefully they understand and see the value of these girls. Even though they’re born here, they’re still descendents from those countries. ey can be out there and represent those countries worldwide.”

For the third straight year, the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC), working with ELLA, has assembled representatives from speci c countries that are looking for U.S. talent of their

country’s heritage to play in upcoming international events and quali ers. is is the rst year the European Federation is taking part in the event.  roughout the weekend, representatives from several di erent countries, including Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, and more are keeping their eyes peeled for special players to potentially recruit.  ey aren’t the only ones recruiting.

Monica Harrison, head coach of the softball team at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, knows the pool of talent here is exciting.

She’s had players on her roster from this event before, so she’s familiar with the skill level on display in Westminster. at’s why she traveled across the country for

a closer look.

“I’m looking for the ability to be able to diversify my roster,” Harrison said. “I think the game of softball is such an international sport, as you can see. e ability to have folks from di erent places being able to connect and play, that’s what I’m looking for.”

Seeing players become teammates so suddenly, but being brought together by a common heritage, is special. It’s also similar to how players acclimate to college play, she said.

You don’t have a lot of time to get to know your teammates before you must depend on one another to win games. Harrison said she’s looking for players who outmatch the intensity and passion of their relatives in the stands.

“To be able to see the leadership qualities and the ability to communicate, those are the little things that I’m looking for,” she said. “I’m always going to be able to see their visible skill. But it’s those intangible things that I’m able to see in these games that are going to make my team better. I want to see them bring the energy! At the end of the day, softball is such a fun sport. I want to see that on the eld.”

Opening ceremonies were canceled on June 22 due to rainy weather. But the sun came back out the following day, Friday, setting up a beautiful, full-slated weekend of softball. Champions were crowned after the nal games on June 25.

On June 26, national team evaluations and Olympic federation tryouts were held throughout the day at Waddell Park. e Triple Crown All-Academic Games were also held in Aurora, where 15 players from multiple teams competed in academic challenges.

June 28 brought an all-world, all-star style competition consisting of the best players from all teams competing in two softball squads against one another back at the complex.

PHOTO BY JOHN RENFROW